Collapsible or folding infant&#39;s auto seat



Oct. 16, 1951 T. H. BoNK 2,571,823

COLLAPSIBLE OR FOLDING INFANT'S AUTO SEAT Filed Aug. 16, 1948 THEODORE H. BONK dhorneys.

Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES [PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE R FOLDING INFANTS AUTO SEAT :KGlaims. 1

This invention relates to a childs collapsible carrier of th type designed for carrying a child in a safe .manner a vehicle, and more particularly to a childs collapsible carrier of'the type described in application for patent, Serial No. 675,759, filed June 10, 1946, now Patent Number 2,461,367 issued February 8, 1949, and of which application this present application is a continuation-impart.

The present invention embodies certain new and useful improvements over the invention disclosed in my aforementioned pendin application for patent.

It is generally an object of the present invention to provide a child's collapsible carrier which may be either in the nature of a seat or in the nature of a crib, the device in either form being adapted to be secured to and carried by the conventional passenger seat of a'passenger vehicle.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved connection between the frame structure of the device and supporting hooks therefor.

A further obje'ctof the invention is to provide a simple and efficient pivotal connection between the horizontal-frame and the back frame of the carrier.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved bodysupport or seat for the carrier.

The childs carrier of the present invention possesses to agreater degree those desirable features of advantage enumerated in my co-pendingapplication and the invention, together with the advantages thereof will be best understood by readingthe followingldetailed description with reference to the accompanying drawin in which .is illustrated a preferred embodiment of themvention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a 'childs carrier embodying thefeatures of the present invention, the same being shown set up for use;

Figure 2 is afront e'levational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the manner of adjustably connecting one end of the adjusting chains with th back frame member of the carrier;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the frame structure contemplated by this invention, said structure being shown infully extended condition, and

Figure aperspective view of the cloth body support or seat for-ming-part of. the invention.

' The childs carrier of this invention, likeuto thatdisclosed in my aforementioned co-pending application, comprises essentially a frame structure including a horizontal frame 10,. a: back frame ll, supporting hooks l2l2, chains I3-I3 for securing the frame It) at the desired II and formed of canvas or other suitable material.

In accordance with the present invention the horizontal frame member 10 is substantially U- shaped with the bight or closed end of the frame arcuate as shown. The parallel side members offrame it terminate at'their free ends in upwardly directed vertical extensions 15 that are formed with integral eyes IS. The back frame member II is also substantially U-shaped and the side or leg portions thereof terminate in lateral inwardly directed pintles l'lthat are journaled inthe eyes I6 to form pivotal connections between the frames i0 and II. To provide for permanency of these pivotal connections there are mounted 'on' the pintles I! washers l8, and at their free ends the pintles I? are peened or otherwise formed to retain the washers in position.

Also in accordance with this invention, the support hooks 12, which are formed from steel strip, havethe shanks'thereof, at the freeends of said shanks, formed to provide vertically spaced aligned apertured horizontal portions I9, '20, that are connected by an integral web 2| disposed at an angle to the perpendicular as shown. The legs or sides of the back frame are journaled in the portions 19, ,20 of the hooks l2 as shown whereby asimple andefilcient swivel connection is provided between each' hook l2 andthe proximateleg or side" of the back' frame H, as shown to advantage injFi'gure 4.

Itwill thus be seen that when the devic is not in use the hooks l2 may be rotated from the position shown in Figure 4 to fold against the frames l0 and II when'the carrier is in afully collapsed condition for storage or similar purp s r To retainthe frame If in substantially horizontal position when the device is infuse; and

. at the desired position as to height above the automobile seat proper, there are'provided the aforementioned chains [3 13. As shown, these chains at one end are suitably secured to the sides of the frame lt adjacent thefront or closed end of that frame. For cooperation'with th'e chains I 3,. l3 there are provided snap fasteners 22,f2'2. These fastenersare of conventional, commercially available design and'are mounted .on, the frame II as shown to be engaged; in a manner believed apparent, by selectedlinksof the chains l3. l3 tosecure the frame it atth'e desired'p'osi- .tionofangular adjustmentrelative to, the frame 1L1 and at thegdesired .elevation;with respect to the automobile seat.

The cloth seat l4 of the device is shown to aawi i advantage in Figure 5. In forming the seat proper 24, integral sides 25 and integral back rest 21 a single sheet of suitable material is employed. In cutting thesheet' to form the seat, the sheet is cut so that the same may be folded to bring two edges thereof together, and these edges are then stitched together for forming a seam 38 that extends along the longitudinal median of the back 21-.

To complete the seat structure a second piece of cloth, cut into a substantial T is used and the tree 28 of the T is stitched at its free end to the front edge of the seat proper 24 to form with the sides 25 leg openings 32.

The first mentioned piece of cloth, forming the seat proper 24, sides 25 and back rest 21 is hemmed as at 28 and 29 to accommodate the frame l and at 30 and 3| to accommodate the frame H while the second, or T shaped piece of cloth, has the cross head thereof hemmed as at 33 to receive the front or closed end of the frame [0. Thus it will be seen that the seat may be readily attached to the mentioned frames in completing the entire assembly of the carrier.

It will be noted that the hems 29 and the hems 3| are separated by notched portions 34 to accommodate the pivotal connections between the frames l0 and H, and that the hems 29 are separated from the hems 28 by notched portions 35 to accommodate the ends of the chains l3-l3 secured to opposite sides of the frame 10.

Completing the structure of the cloth seat 14, an outer seat covering 36 of leatherette, or other suitable long wearing material having an edge outline conforming substantially to the contour of the seat proper 24, is secured to the material of the seat proper along the front edge of said seat proper and inwardly from said edge adjacent the sides 25 to form for the seat 24 a pocket in which is placed a suitable pad 31. Preferably the pad 31 is made up of layers of material, the bottommost one of which may be of some suitable relatively stiff composition. The pad is releasably retained in the pocket, and the pocket 'held in substantially closed condition through the medium of suitable tie strings secured to the material of the seat [4 and the outer material 36 and tied into a bow adjacent the back of the seat as shown.

If desired, the seat assembly may be equipped with suitable ornaments 23. These ornaments as shown in Figure 1, may be associated either with the chains l3 or, if desired, the piece of material at the front of the seat and cooperating with the sides 25 to form the aforementioned leg openings 32 may be of uniform width throughout its length instead of being T-shaped, and these ornaments placed on the closed end of the frame I0 and extending through hem 33 to be available to the child at the front of the seat.

The manner of using the device in this invention will be apparent without further detailed description. It will also be observed that the childs support of this invention, although simply constructed, provides a very strong suspended seat which may be readily flipped open with one hand or folded back into a compact structure against the back of the auto seat when not in use; folds compactly so as to fit the glove compartment of many automobiles now in use; is of balanced design, is safe and by having the front of the frame [0 rounded affords suflicient elbow room for the operator of the vehicle so as not to interfere with his proper control of the vehicle.

While the invention has been described in detail in its presently preferred embodiment, it will, of course, be understood that such has been done for purposes of illustration only and not by way of limitation, and therefore only such limitations are to be imposed thereon as may reasonably come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A childs carrier comprising a cloth-supporting frame structure comprising back and horizontal frames pivoted together the back frame embodying a horizontal cross bar and vertical side members, supporting hooks for the frame structure, each supporting hook having a pair of horizontal and vertically spaced aligned apertured portions in which is journaled one side of the back frame member with the upper of said apertured portions engaging the horizontal cross bar of the back frame, chains secured at one end to opposed sides of the horizontal frame, and snap fasteners on the back frame and engageable with selected links of said chains for securing the horizontal frame member at selected positions of angular adjustment with respect. to the back frame.

2. A portable childs carrier of the type designed for use in connection with the passenger seat of an automobile, comprising a horizontal frame having opposed side members provided atv their free ends with eyes, and a back frame mem her having a horizontal cross bar and vertical side members terminating in lateral pintles j ournaled in said eyes to provide pivotal connections between said frames, and hooks for engagement over the back of the automobile passenger seat respectively each provided with vertically spaced horizontal portions provided with apertures accommodating the proximate vertical side member of the back frame with the upper of said horizontal portions engaging the horizontal cross. bar of the back frame to provide a swivel connection between the hook and said frame member.

3. In a portable childs carrier of the type designed for use in connection with the passenger seat of an automobile, a back frame having a horizontal cross bar and vertical side members, and supporting hooks for the carrier, each of said supporting hooks having a shank provided at its free end with aligned horizontal and vertically spaced apertured portions connected by an integral web, said aligned apertured portions having a vertical side member of the back frame trained therethrough to provide a swivel connection between the hook and frame member, with the upper apertured portions engaging the horizontal cross bar of the back frame.

THEODORE H. BONK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 264,157 Hepburn Sept. 12, 1882 802,537 Uren Oct. 24, 1905 1,659,405 Love Feb. 14,1928 1,742,806 Chaney .Jan. 7, 1930 2,005,463 Harryman June 18, 1935 2,031,109 Kersten Feb. 18, 1936 2,359,599. Allen Oct. 3, 1944 

